| **Fair Value Measurements And Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                  |
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| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Fair Value, Estimate Not Practicable, Cost Method Investments                                                              | $ 71us-gaap_FairValueEstimateNotPracticableCostMethodInvestments                                                                                 | $ 69us-gaap_FairValueEstimateNotPracticableCostMethodInvestments |   |
| Aggregate fair value, fixed-rate debt obligations                                                                          | 2,357stj_FixedRateDebtObligationsFairValueDisclosure                                                                                             |   |   |
| Aggregate carrying value, fixed-rate debt obligations                                                                      | 2,273stj_FixedRateDebtObligationsCarryingValue                                                                                                   |   |   |
| Aggregate carrying value, other debt obligations                                                                           | 1,593stj_OtherDebtCarryingValue                                                                                                                  |   |   |
| cash equivalents at carrying value excluding money market securities                                                       | 713stj_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValueExcludingMoneyMarketSecurities                                                                              | 498stj_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValueExcludingMoneyMarketSecurities |   |
| Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]                                                                                |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Estimated fair value after write-down                                                                                      | 55us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsMember | 50us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsMember |   |
| Operating Expense [Member]                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)                                                     | 58us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember      | 29us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember |   |
| Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]                                                   |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived                                                                              |                                                                                                                                             | 13us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelatedIntangibleAssetsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember | 2us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelatedIntangibleAssetsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]                                                          |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived                                                                              |                                                                                                                                             |   | 31us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Neuromodulation Products [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]                      |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived                                                                              |                                                                                                                                             |   | 23us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis= stj_NeuromodulationProductsMember |
| Estimated fair value after write-down                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                             |   | 3us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis= stj_NeuromodulationProductsMember |
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Discontinued Product Line [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]                     |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived                                                                              |                                                                                                                                             |   | 8us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis= stj_DiscontinuedProductLineMember |
| Long Lived Asset Charges [Member]                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                           |                                                                                                                                             |   |   |
| Other asset impairment charges                                                                                             | $ 25us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis= stj_LongLivedAssetChargesMember                                | $ 14us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis= stj_LongLivedAssetChargesMember | $ 41us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis= stj_LongLivedAssetChargesMember |

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| - Definition
Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities or money market securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash equivalents may be reported as cash equivalents, while legally restricted equivalents held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular equivalents should not be reported as part of unrestricted cash equivalents.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fixed rate debt obligations carrying value.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fixed rate debt obligations fair value disclosure.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| - Definition
Carrying value of other debt obligations (excluding fixed-rate senior notes).
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| - Definition
This item represents a financial instrument (as defined) for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value. Such disclosure may be for an individual financial instrument or a class of financial instruments.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638263&loc=d3e39828-111592
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of impairment loss resulting from write-down of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit to fair value.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets other than goodwill due to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| - Definition
Fair value portion of other assets.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                         |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                   |
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